Sangamon Sun

In Galesburg, Illinois, the IC Lady Blues softball team displayed a commanding performance against Knox, with Jordan Closs achieving her second perfect game of the season. This significant achievement was marked by a dominating series where IC overwhelmed Knox with a total of 22 runs over 10 innings, concluding their regular season in a strong fashion.

The doubleheader took place after being rescheduled due to weather issues that disrupted the original games on April 22. IC finalized the first suspended game with a 9-0 victory in five innings. They followed this with a decisive 13-1 win against Knox in the second game.

The Lady Blues ended the regular season with a 24-16 record overall and were 13-3 in conference play. In contrast, Knox's season record was 2-33, including a 1-13 record in their conference games.

In Game 1, Closs delivered an outstanding performance, maintaining her scoreless streak to 52 1/3 innings, ranking as the 12th-longest in NCAA Division III history. Her contribution was pivotal in IC's winning result and marked the first two perfect games in IC's history.

Game 2 saw IC maintaining their momentum, with an early lead sustained by consistent offensive plays. Key players like Kendall Cole and Ezzy Mauermann significantly contributed to IC's victory with multiple RBIs. Avery Fritz supported the team’s effort by allowing only two hits against Knox and securing her fifth win of the season with her performance from the pitcher's circle.

The Lady Blues' recent form is commendable, with victories in 11 of their last 12 games. With their regular season now complete, IC has secured a spot in the upcoming 2025 Midwest Conference Tournament, with specific tournament details expected to be announced following the season's conclusion on Saturday.